Monday, September 22, 2014

THE COMBAT AIRLIFTER CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads
by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail
your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, Ark. 72078. You may also e-mail them
to combatairlifterclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in
Friday's issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

WANTED 10 Homes in your county needing SIDING, WINDOWS or
ROOFS. We are opening a branch office and will use these homes for our new
brochure. If selected you can save hundreds of dollars. Call now to see if you
qualify. 100 % Financing. Home Owners Only. 1-866-668-8681.**

DO YOU LOVE ANIMALS? TRAIN TO BEa Veterinary Technician,800.383-4959, www.ChangeLives.com.
Heritage College, 1309 Old Forge Dr. LR, Heritage has applied for accreditation
by the AVMA-Committee on Veterinary Tech Education and Activities. For
important program info: please visit www.heritage-education.com/disclosures.**

Facebook Town Hall Tuesday on Medical Clinic Col. Patrick Rhatigan, 19th Airlift Wing and installation commander, will be hosting a town hall from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, via the Little Rock Air Force Base Facebook page. This town hall will be topic focused on the medical clinic. Visit www.facebook.com/LittleRockAirForce to join the event. A full description and list of Rules of Engagement can be found on the base website www.littlerock.af.mil. At this time, town hall questions can be posted in advance on the event wall. If you have any questions regarding the event, contact Public Affairs at (501) 987-5855.

Diversity Day on Sept. 26

Little Rock Air Force Base will be hosting Diversity Day Sept. 26. The day provides Team Little Rock members and their families an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the values of cultural diversity and help society learn to “live together.” Cultural food and beverage samplings will be available throughout the event.

The Drug Enforcement Agency is conducting a Drug Takeback Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Little Rock Air Force Base main Exchange lobby. Please bring your unused or expired mediation to the 19th Medical Group staff for safe disposal. If you miss the Drug Takeback, a 24/7 year-round drop box is available at the Jacksonville Police Department. For more information visit, www.dea.gov.

New rates at inn Oct. 1

The Razorback Inn will be initiating new room rates effective Oct. 1, 2014. The rates are as follows:

A: I entered the Air Force Academy in June of 1988. It’s been a little while here. It has been 26 years and counting since I raised my right hand and took the oath.

Q: If you could change careers and do anything else within the Air Force, what would you do?

A: There’s a multitude of different functions in our Air Force that I think are really cool – cyberspace, a lot of the special operations (missions), and the amazing things that we’re doing in the intelligence world. To be honest, I don’t think I want to trade. I think I’ve got the best job in the Air Force, right here at the 314th.

Q: What is one of the biggest goals that you have for the 314th Airlift Wing during your tenure here?

A: The formal training unit here at the 314th Airlift Wing is known as the Center of Excellence.

Excellence is an Air Force core value and I love that for combat airlift, C-130 tactical airlift excellence starts right here. I think I want to continue to strengthen the reputation we have as the Center of Excellence.

Q: Why is our ability to produce combat airlift power important to you?

A: It’s important to me because it’s important to our nation, our allies and our partners around the globe. Wherever we have global vigilance, reach and power, wherever our forces go, wherever the Air Force goes, wherever the President of the United States chooses to exercise American power, you can almost bet there’s a good chance that C-130 combat airlift will be part of the solution.

Q: What are some of your goals or things you would like to see in the next 5 years?

A: I think it’s really important right now that we stay grounded in our core mission. There’s a lot of uncertainty. There are dwindling budgets and our Airmen are living through another round of force shaping and force management, so people are wondering what’s going to happen in their lives. The effects of those resource constraints and the force management actions that our Air Force is taking are going to leave us a smaller but still effective force. So we’re going to have to find a way that will help people who are going to be departing our Air Force and (then) transition elegantly. They’ve made enormous contributions, but the fact of the matter is that we’re no longer in the position to be able to afford the force that we desire. We’re still going to be a combat effective force. But for everybody who remains, each member and each Airman, no matter what their particular AFSC is or what their duty is here at Little Rock AFB, they become even more important on a smaller team.

Q: What was it like when you were notified that you were coming back to the Rock?

A: It was really exciting. I spent a brief period here. The majority of my operational flying career was flying C-141s. Just after 9/11, (I transitioned) from the C-141 to the C-130. (My family and I) spent a short time period at The Rock, but we recall it very fondly. My wife and I had our first daughter just prior to moving here. She was just short of a year old and was here from ages 1 - 3. It was kind of like coming home and was very nice.

Q: Is there something about you personally that you would like the base to know? What are some hobbies or interests that you have?

A: It’s interesting when people ask me what my hobbies are. I inwardly laugh. My wife and I have been blessed with six children, so we spend a lot of time focusing on family. My faith, my family and freedom are very important to me. I see a lot of those things are aligned with my services to the nation and to the Air Force. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to be able to align my professional life and my personal life in that way. I take this business of supporting our Airmen and getting the mission done very seriously. But I don’t take myself too seriously and my kids are a constant reminder to not take myself too seriously. The kids always have something going on.

Q: Do you think that being a dad has helped you become a better leader?

A: Yes, in short, being a parent forces you to mature in ways that I don’t know you would voluntary do as a single person. So, the responsibility of taking care of children, the time management involved in making sure you’re running the family battle rhythm to get the kids to different activities all helps. Through their school work, through their commitments, through their activities in the community, I think it forces you to prioritize and really gets you outside of your personal goals.

You really do have to focus on serving others, so being a parent kind of expands that window for you in positive ways.

Q: In your Air Force career, what have you seen change the most?

A: The change of bringing the C-130J Super Hercules into the fleet gave us a chance to look at how we conducted training. It gives us an opportunity to re-look at doctrine of what has been written, and we can approach it with a fresh perspective now. We can approach training in new and different ways and take advantage of new technology and the combat experience of our crew force. When I showed up in 2001, there weren’t that many Airmen (who had achieved) seven or more air medals or multiple combat deployments and hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of combat time. That’s the force we have today. The challenge for our leadership is finding ways to capitalize on all of that experience, on all of that skill and motivation to make sure that we continue to strengthen our reputation as the Center of Excellence here.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a leader in the U.S. Air Force, being a commander?

A: I already mentioned that I do take it seriously. This responsibility is a great privilege, but leadership is a gift, and it’s given to those who follow. Every single day I’m working hard to make sure I’m worthy of that gift and the trust that the Airmen place in me. We’re constantly fighting to set direction. We’re moving through a lot of uncertainty, as we already mentioned. So, we need to remove some of those obstacles and some of the distractions and make sure that our Airmen can stay firmly focused on training the world’s best C-130 combat airlifters.

Q: What do you want Airmen to remember or keep in mind, day in and day out, regardless of what they do?

A: I have three things. My challenge to Airmen is to lead with courage and compassion. We mention that there are a lot of challenges out there, but we have to lead with confidence and boldness. It’s the times that we’re living in right now that really demand it. As we accomplish the mission, we can never forget that it’s the Airmen that make the mission happen. We need to be compassionate; we need to understand where people are, the challenges that they’re facing, and ensure we’re aligning our resources to the mission in the most appropriate way.

Second, strengthen the team. There are many things you can accomplish in this world on your own. But if you want to accomplish big things that are going to change the world, you need to be able to work well with the team. So, be focused on working well with others.

And lastly, development. Both personally and professionally. We’ve talked about the fact that we’re going to be a smaller Air Force going forward. We’ve talked about the fact that a smaller force increases the importance of each Airman. So we’ve all got a responsibility to expand our toolkit; whether that’s in your parenting skills, how you’re handling your finances, all those things that underpin our resilience as Airmen. In regards to Comprehensive Airmen Fitness, you ought to have goals, physical goals, mental goals, social goals and spiritual goals, that make us resilient and combat effective for our Air Force going forward in the future. I think that would be my three points to challenge Airmen to do.

September marks Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide prevention remains a community responsibility 24/7/365, and we all have a duty to intervene. But how does that relate to social media?

Recent studies have shown that 79 percent of young adults have been exposed to suicide-related content through the media. The role of social media is a relatively new and evolving phenomenon that society is only beginning to assess and understand.

Emerging data regarding the influence of the Internet and social media on suicide behavior has suggested that these forms of technology may introduce new threats to the public as well as new opportunities for assistance and prevention. The goal of this article is to enhance knowledge on how to intervene when faced with concerning social media content.

Whether you have a Facebook page, a Twitter account, or share your videos on YouTube, the reality is an increasing number of the population uses these social media platforms every day - often in place of face-to-face communication. With this revolutionary shift comes an increase in the incidence of people-at-risk using these forums to voice thoughts of suicide.

One population struggling with elevated suicide rates is the U.S. military. “When you look at the prevalence rate of suicide in the military, we see the largest number [of suicides] are occurring in the youngest age group,” explains Craig Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, associate director of the National Center for Veteran Studies. “The youngest age group is also highly active with social media.”

Social networkers who have never been faced with such serious and urgent crises can be placed in very difficult situations when this occurs. When suicide ideation is expressed in these forums, how should one respond? Are there guidelines or protocols that one can follow? Developing a response to this new but serious issue has taken on an urgency that needs to be addressed.

Here are some tips from experts in the field:

• Above all, take the threat seriously

• Keep the channels of communication open; find out more information about the individual such as name and contact details, address or location, and phone number. Find out from the individual if he or she has a suicide plan and the details of the plan.

• Encourage the person to contact others that can provide immediate and personal help (e.g First Sergeant, 911, or family or friends).

• Direct the person-at-risk to the mental health clinic or a telephone help line such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 (TALK).

• If you do not know the person, use the platforms proffered by the site to identify him/her.

• If the person is in imminent danger, contact 911 and give whatever information you have.

• Take the necessary precautions for your own safety.

Additional tips for supervisors

• Keep an eye out for trending topics on social media that may be related to the suicide of a celebrity or other well-known person.

• Encourage those you supervise to not repost stories or links about suicide attempts or death.

• Work with influencers in online fan communities who can help to quell rumors and spread accurate information to counter suicide hoaxes.

Additionally, many social networking sites have already taken steps to enhance safety. For example, Google’s Internet search engine has a feature that displays a link and message about the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at the top of the search page if keyword searches suggest suicidal ideation or intent. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also recently established a partnership with Facebook. Under the suicide-prevention program, users are encouraged to report to Facebook if a “friend” writes a post that indicates he or she is potentially suicidal. The original poster is then sent an email with a number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and a link directing the user to an online chat with a crisis worker.

In summary, the role of social media and its potential influence on suicide-related behavior is a relatively new and an evolving phenomenon. The link between social media and suicide is not solely negative and could in fact be positive. By following these simple tips you can help to promote a healthy community and be an effective wingman. For additional wingman training, sign up for Leadership Pathways classes here: http://www.littlerock.af.mil/leadershippathways/ or contact the Mental Health clinic at (501) 987-7338.

The Air Force has depended on the 50th Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base to produce combat airlift with the C-130H3 model, since the mid-90’s.

The members of 50th AS have used the H3s to accomplish a variety of missions together, such as missions to Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Due to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, the 50th AS will no longer be executing combat airlift with the H3 models. The 50th AS is losing the C-130H3 models and integrating with the 913th Airlift Group to become a total force association.

“Plane 0554 is the last active-duty C-130H3 across the entire Air Force,” said Lt. Col. Michael Fellona, 50th AS commander. “It’s set to go to the Reno Air National Guard Base on Sept. 12.”

Even though the 50th AS will no longer have their H3s to fly, some pilots will still remember how the H3 models executed the mission with effectiveness.

“In the 90s, when they delivered the H3s, they were immediately put into use,” said Fellona. “They were deployed to Bosnia for support operations and performed high altitude airdrops. They had a part in Kosovo operations. Shortly after 9/11, they were among the first ones to be deployed in support of Afghanistan operations.”

For some pilots, they will remember the influence the H3 models had on their career.

“It’s the first plane you’re ever qualified in; it’s the first major weapons system that you’re qualified in, that you own and took to combat,” said Major Justin Kershaw, 50th AS director of operations. “Since then, we’ve changed it around a few times and maybe left it and come back to it. But you always remember your first major weapons system.”

As the 50th AS gets ready to become a total force association, the H3s will be dispersed to various Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units across the U.S.

“They will change the tail flash, fix them up, and fly with their own squadrons,” said Fellona. “The planes will continue to fly. They’ll just be under the care of both Guard and Reserve units.”

Although Little Rock’s C-130H3 mission objective has changed, the 50th AS will continue to execute the mission effectively.

“The biggest change for Little Rock AFB is that there are no more H3 models,” said Fellona. “We will still work for the 19th Airlift Wing because we’re active duty but our operational direction will come from the 913th.”

As the 50th AS says its goodbyes to the H3 model and integrates with the units at the 913th AG, they progress towards the future with hope.

“The 50th has a long and proud heritage of flying combat airlift,” said Fellona. “We are excited for the opportunity to work with the 913th AG moving forward.”

Inside a secure building, surrounded by locked doors and blank walls with no windows, is where the 19th Airlift Wing command post emergency action controllers find themselves. Computer monitors at every desk, a constant ringing of phones, and voices from communication radios are some of the things one can expect to experience while inside the command post.

The mission of the 19th AW command post is to relay information from the wing commander to different agencies as well as gather information from other sources and disperse it through the proper channels.

The command post manages all flights and keeps track of every detail from start to finish. They keep the aircraft and aircrew in constant contact with the base. If there are any in-flight emergencies, Airmen working in the command post relay the information to leadership and contact all necessary personnel.

“We are the eyes and ears of Little Rock Air Force Base,” said Senior Airman Kayla Lanier, a 19th AW command post emergency action controller. “Our main mission is to gather important information and pass it on to base leadership and different agencies.”

The command post unit falls directly under the base commander.

All command post emergency action controllers must be certified by Col. Patrick Rhatigan, 19th Airlift Wing commander or Col. William Otter, 19th AW vice commander. Once an emergency action controller has completed his or her initial training and is briefed by the commander, the Airman is entrusted to speak on behalf of the 19th AW leadership.

“The work hours are long,” said Lanier. “We don’t get family days. Rain, snow, sleet not even a “sharknado” will stop us from coming to work.”

The command post works 24-hours a day, 365 days each year, with a limited number of personnel. Due to their very tight schedules, all the controllers have to precisely manage their time.

Staff Sgt. Angela Holley, a 19th AW command post emergency action controller and single parent, manages to work long hours while also balancing her personal life, which includes raising and spending time with her son.

Even though the job is tough, the Airmen at the command post contribute to the mission with smiles and positive attitudes.

“I love being in the military,” said Holley. “It’s definitely a sacrifice. I sacrifice time with my son in order to accomplish the mission, but I know that the mission here is very important. I enjoy the feeling I get knowing I am a very important asset to the base.”

While working at the command post can take its mental toll on an Airman, physical readiness is also a challenge that command post personnel must face.

In order to remain mission-ready, the controllers have 24/7 access to a personal gym inside the command post building. Although 12-hour shifts create a challenge, CP Airmen can stay in close proximity to their mission as well as staying fit-to-fight.

Along with mental and physical readiness, emergency action controllers must maintain proficiency within their expertise.

The controllers train monthly on different scenarios such as hazardous threats or gate closures. The scenarios better prepare the Airmen for real life situations and help them become familiarized with the protocols and checklists that need to be completed in a particular situation. They must also take two monthly tests, a general knowledge test and an emergency action test to ensure they are performing at their best.

The command post is vital to communication between the commanders and their Airmen. Without the CP, the base, during an emergency could become chaotic. The proper information would not find its way to the agencies that need it or the information could be inaccurate causing more confusion.

Friday, September 12, 2014

THE COMBAT AIRLIFTER CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT will take ads
by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 982-9421, or you may mail
your ad to 404 Graham Rd., Jacksonville, Ark. 72078. You may also e-mail them
to combatairlifterclassifieds@arkansasleader.com Deadline to advertise in
Friday's issue is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

WANTED 10 Homes in your county needing SIDING, WINDOWS or
ROOFS. We are opening a branch office and will use these homes for our new
brochure. If selected you can save hundreds of dollars. Call now to see if you
qualify. 100% Financing. Home Owners Only. 1-866-668-8681.**

The Airman’s Attic has moved to The Crossroads Café, building 864. Open to active-duty Airmen and spouses E-6 and below, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Free items include dishes, pots, beds, cots, clothing, furniture, small appliances among many other things. Visit the Cinderella Closet where military dependents can borrow formal dresses for special occasions such as military balls and prom, free of charge. The only requirement is the dress must be dry cleaned before it is returned. To shop or donate, please stop by the new location.

Gate closures until October

Due to construction, the Arnold/107 Gate is closed and will remain closed until approximately the beginning of October. To assist with traffic, the Harris Road (School) Gate will continue 24-hour operations and the Vandenburg Gate will remain open.

Firing range complex off limits

The Combat Arms small arms firing range complex on Little Rock Air Force Base is off limits to all unauthorized personnel. Anyone requiring access to the ranges or surrounding areas during and after duty hours is required to contact the range control in building 1393 or at (501) 987-6861 prior to entry as per posted guidance at the range entrance.

Munitions Storage Area closure

The Munitions Storage Area will be closed Sept. 1-26 for the semi-annual 100 percent stockpile inventory. During this time, the MSA will only process emergency requests. Please forward all questions to Master Sgt. Dunlap at (501) 987-6031.

September is World Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide remains an international public health concern as the second leading cause of death in the 15-29 years age group.

Combating suicide is a community responsibility and the Air Force has made significant strides to provide education on risk factors and crisis intervention skills.

The Air Force emphasizes the importance of our “Duty to Intervene;” this has most frequently come in the form of the A.C.E acronym, or Ask, Care, Escort.

Identifying and providing treatment to those in crisis is a great start; however, it is important that we strive to go further, and learn how to intervene before a crisis occurs.

During this suicide prevention month, I challenge the Team Little Rock community to learn new methods of providing emotional support for one another.

When you get a cut on your finger you typically get a band aid and provide basic “first aid”. The same can be done for emotional wounds. It’s called Psychological First Aid.

PFA was initially designed as a strategy to provide support and enhance resilience for disaster survivors. The primary objectives are to provide a safe & calm environment, to enable the person to convey their needs, and to provide practical assistance when possible.

Many PFA skills are relatable to aspects of our everyday lives. A core strategy is the ability to actively listen. Active listening is a technique utilized in counseling that enhances communication and understanding between two parties.

You don’t have to be a psychologist, commander, First Sergeant or supervisor to actively listen; only a good wingman.

You can actively listen with four simple steps:

1) Prepare your mindset and environment; turn off distractions (“I’m ready to listen and my sole focus is the person in front of me”).

2) Ask an open-ended question, or one that is not easily answered by a one-word answer (e.g. “What would you do with a million dollars?”).

3) Convey your understanding with a simple gesture (e.g. head nod or “mmhmm”).

4) You can also provide a reflection, which is a brief statement repeating or summarizing exactly what has been said to you. For example, Them: “If I had a million dollars I’d buy a boat.” You: “You’d buy a boat.” This simple action tends to prompt the discussion forward.

By following these simple steps, you convey interest and respect while simultaneously promoting an environment conducive for problem resolution.

In summary, the TLR community has a duty to intervene when others are in need. By performing simple strategies of PFA, such as active listening, we can provide critical support to those in our lives before their concerns become overwhelming.

Whether you are in the role of a supervisor, parent, partner, or friend, active listening is the foundation for fostering relationships and providing effective emotional support. Together we can work together to build rock-solid lives.

For additional training, sign up for Leadership Pathways classes here: http://www.littlerock.af.mil/leadershippathways/ or contact the mental health clinic at (501) 987-7338.

The Air Force released Air Force Instruction 90-506 in April 2014 in order to enhance the comprehensive development and resilience of all Airmen, whether military, civilian and their families.

This instruction supports the Comprehensive Airman Fitness program. And though it is not a new program, some components have changed. For instance, the mental, social, physical and spiritual aspects of the program that were once called pillars are now domains.

“Comprehensive Airman Fitness focuses on the individual person, whether an Airman or a family member,” said Stephanie Wynn, 19th Airlift Wing community support coordinator. “It encompasses the “whole person” concept with the four domains. Think about yourself as a link in the chain of either your family or your unit. The four domains make up the quadrants of that link or circle. If any quadrant is weak then your link in the chain will be weak. The goal is to maintain strength in all four domains to insure overall strength in your life.”

At Little Rock Air Force Base maintaining each domain is reinforced and encouraged through numerous forms of training and education as well as a whole day each year dedicated to ensure that Airmen are aware of the resources available to assist them with any or all domains they may need help with. This day is called Wingman Day.

Though there are suggestions throughout the training on how Airmen may partake in sustaining their resilience, the CAF program is only a tool; and Airmen should express their own creativity when doing so. For example, the spiritual domain is not limited to only discussing religion, nor does the physical domain necessitate you must join a gym.

“The physical domain deals with your physical self,” said Wynn. “It encompasses areas such as your fitness, nutrition, sleep, relaxation, energy/time management, and your physical health. Many people immediately want to go straight to physical training when discussing this domain; however, this domain covers much more than that. Sit down and think of how you need to improve your physical health. When you find your weak or weaker areas, find a resource, i.e. a Leadership Pathways class or visiting with your physician or other provider, to help you improve in that area.”

However the individual sees their spirituality or physical fitness is how they can express it. The main goal is that all Airmen remain healthy in all facets of their life, which will in turn also help ensure mission readiness.

“The CAF domains directly affect mission readiness,” said Master Sgt. Eric Pelican, 19th Comptroller Squadron first sergeant. “Maintaining the domains is a discipline we all must have, and when any one of them is unbalanced, you cannot be accurately productive. If there isn’t some kind of balance with all four domains, in some way, the mission can suffer.”

Pelican said depending on everyone’s own specific life experiences, one domain may hold more significance to a person than others, but in the end they all bleed together to produce a comprehensively healthy and mission-ready Airman.

For this quarter, (July – September), the focused domain is physical. There are many ways Airmen can strengthen this area. Whatever way a person chooses, remember to be safe and remain resilient. For those wanting more information in growing in the physical domain, there are Leadership Pathways classes offered by a variety of agencies such as the Health and Wellness Center, Fitness Center, Mental Health, Outdoor Recreation, Airman & Family Readiness Center and more!

To learn more about Comprehensive Airman Fitness and the resources to help you build resilience, visit www.littlerock.af.mil/comprehensiveairmanfitness. You can also register for Leadership Pathways – a program where agencies across the installation offer classes that pertain to the CAF domains and provide tools to enhance your personal and professional development.